Respirator facepiece



W. A. WHIPPLE RESPIRATOR FACEPIECE May 4, 1937.

Filed May 11, 1936 Patent d. y 4, 1937 UNITED STATES amass! RESPIRATOR FACEPIECE Willis A. Whipple, Camp Lake, Wis., assignor to Robert Malcom, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 11, 1936, Serial No. 79,155 20 Claims. (01. 128-146) This invention relates to facepieces of respirators and similar devices that include a part of relatively soft flexible material, such as sheet rubber, for example, that covers the nose and mouth, and conforms to the face of the wearer.

It is an object of the invention to provide an attachment for such a facepiece that contributes to the conformation of the material thereof to the face with a snug and substantially fluid-tight fit, whereby leakage of vitiated air to the nasal passages is prevented.

Another object is to provide an attachment of this kind that constitutes means of connecting the head-band to the facepiece, and the arrangement is such that pull of the head-band in holding the facepiece onthe user causes members of the attachment to be urged toward each other and to press the facepiece material against the nose in conforming contact therewith.

Further, the invention provides an attachment for the purposes stated that has nose-pressing parts that are adjustable to adapt those parts to varying facial forms and to vary pressure.

When considered with the description herein, the characteristics of the invention are apparent in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, wherein adaptations of the invention are disclosed, for purposes of illustration.

Although the disclosures herein exemplify what now are considered to be preferable embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that it is not the intention to be limited necessarily thereto in interpretation of the claims, as modifications and adaptations within the limits of the claims can be made without departing from the nature of the invention.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views of the drawing, of which- Fig. 1 is a side view of a facepiece and the attachment as it appears on the face of a user;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the facepiece and attachment;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a facepiece having another form of attachment;

Fig. 4 is a view illustrative of connection of that attachment to a facepiece member;

Fig. 5 is a view of a modification of the form of attachment exemplified by Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail view. a

In the drawing, A designates a respirator facepiece of relatively soft molded rubber made to cover the nose and mouth of the user, and to conform to and to fit tightly against the face when held in place by a head-band B, which usually is of elastic webbing; C designates an annular threaded member or shell having fluidtight connection in the front of the facepiece for connection of an air-filter or means of air supply, and D designates a part containing an ex- 5 halation-passage.

The invention is directed to means for connecting the head-band to such a face-piece and for pressing the facepiece material against and over the nose of the user, while under tension of 10 the head-band, to insure a tight fit of the material.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the facepiece has fast to each side two members that include buttonlike heads 8 in substantially vertical line between the annular member C and the rear or face-contacting edge, the pair of heads on one side being opposite those on the other. Each pair of these heads is for holding on the facepiece a singlepiece member of spring wire or other suitable material, designated as a whole by numeral 9, for connection with an end of the head-band and for pressing the facepiece material against the nose of the user.

Each member 9 includes, in sequence, a terminal loop l0 disposed under the lower head 8, a somewhat arcuate central part II arched or rounded outwardly from the surface of the facepiece and extending to a loop I2 disposed under the upper head 8, and an arm l3 extending upwardly andrearwardly and terminating in an eye [4 affording a bearing surface. An end of the head-band is connected to the central part I l of each member 9.

The member 9 also may be made of suitable sheet material, such as metal, having spring property, and associated with the facepiece member C, as seen in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, each of the sheetmaterial members is of a single piece, and includes a shank l5 connected at its front end to the annular member C and extending backwardly therefrom in a substantially horizontal line, and an arm l6 extending upwardly and rearwardly and having its end turnedoutwardly, asseen at IT, and thus rounded. These sheet-' material members may be formed integrally of a ring l5a held in place by the annular member C. Each of these members is arched or rounded outwardly from the surface of the facepiece, as seen more particularly in Fig. 7.

A button-like head l8 on each of the members, intermediate its ends and preferably at the bend of the juncture of the shank I5 and arm I6, is 55 to take a terminal loop I9 of a wire loop 20 to which an end of the head-band is connected.

The members 9 of both the wire and sheet-= material forms are shaped originally to conform to the facial contour of average users. However, both of these forms may be adjusted to meet the requirements of particular users. The arms [3 of the wire members may be flexed in any direction, as with a pair of pliers, to alter the position and amount of pressure at its end upon the nose. The arms 16 of the sheet-material members, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, may be bent outwardly or inwardly to alter pressure at its end upon the nose.

Moreover, in order that the sheet-material members 9 also may be adjusted to alter the position of contact of the ends of its arms [6 with the facepiece material, eachof thosemembers may be made with its shank l5 and arm I6 of separate pieces, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The abutting and overlapping end portions of these pieces are held tightly together by a rivet or other suitable fastener 2 I, having a head 22 under which the terminal bend l9 of the head-bandconnecting loop 20 is disposed. Frictional resistance will prevent pivotal deflection of arms I 6 during use, but such deflection may be had for adjustment.

When a facepiece equipped with the attachment of this invention is held on the face of a user by the head-band, as seen, for example, in Fig. 1, the band, in drawing the facepiece against the'face, causes the ends of the arms l3 (or IE) to press the facepiece material against the sides of the nose and snugly thereover, the pressing ends of the members 9 being oppositely positioned. Maintenance of conforming contact of the facepiece material thus is assured.

This pressure not only is because of the fact ,1 that the exertion of the head-band tends to flex the facepiece material inwardly, but also because the central parts ll of the wire form to which the head-band is connected, and the sheet-material members, are arched outwardly from the surface of the facepiece. The head-band is connected to the sheet-material members approximately midway between their ends and substantially at the crests of the arch.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A facepiece of flexible material, a member on each side thereof for pressing facepiece material into conforming contact with the face, and means on said members for connection with a head-band, said members being arranged to be pressed toward each other under exertion of the head-band.

2. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, a member on each side of said portion for pressing material thereof into conforming contact with the nose of the wearer, and means on said member for connection with a head-band, said members being arranged to be pressed toward each other under exertion of the head-band.

3. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, a member attached to each side thereof comprising means between its ends for connection of a head-band thereto, and an arm abutting at its free end the side of said nose portion.

4. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, attached to each side thereof a member arched outwardly from the surface of the facepiece and comprising means between its ends for connection of a head-band thereto, said member at one end abutting the side of said nose portion.

5. A facepiece of flexible material formed to cover the nose of a user and having attached to each side thereof a member comprising an arm having a free end positioned to contact with said material at the side of the nose, and a part for connection with a head-band, said members being arranged to exert pressure at their ends against the material when under tension of the head-band. 6. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion and having on each side a member of elongated material comprising a part con nected at each end to the facepiece, and an arm extending from said part and contactable with the nose portion, said parts being connectable with a head-band.

7. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion and having on each side a member of elongated material comprising a part connected at each end to the facepiece and arched outwardly from the surface thereof, and an arm extending from said part and contactable at its end with the nose portion, said arched parts being connectible with a head-band.

8. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion and having on each side a spring- Wire member comprising a part connected at each end to the facepiece and adapted to be connected with an end of a head-band, and an arm extending from said part contactable with the nose portion of the facepiece.

9. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion and having on each side a springwire member comprising a part connected at each end to the facepiece and arched outwardly from the surface thereof, and an arm extending from said arched part contactable with said nose portion, said arched parts of the two members being adapted for connection with ends of a headband.

10. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, and two members, one on each side of the facepiece, each of said members being connected at one end to the face-piece and having its other end contacting with said nose portion, and means on said members between their ends for connection of a head-band thereto.

11. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, and two members, one on each side of the facepiece, each of said members being connected at one end to the facepiece and arched outwardly therefrom and contacting at its free end with said nose portion, and means on said members between their ends for connection of a head-band thereto.

12. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion and with an annular shell at its front, and two members, one on each side of the facepiece, connected to said shell at one end, extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom, and contacting at their other ends with said nose portion, and means on said members between their ends for connection of a head-band thereto.

13. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion and with an annular shell at its front, and two members, one on each side of the facepiece, connected with said shell at one end, extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom and arched outwardly from the surface of the facepiece, and contacting at their other ends with said nose portion, and means on said members between their ends for connection of a headband thereto.

14. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion and with an annular shell at its front, a ring connected to said shell, and two members, one on each side of said facepiece, connected with said ring at one end, extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom, and contacting at their other ends with said nose portion, and means on said members between their ends for connection of a head-band thereto.

15. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, and two members, one on each side of the facepiece, each of said members comprising a shank connected to the facepiece, and an arm swingably adjustable thereon and contacting at one end with said nose portion, and means on said members for connection of a head-band thereto.

16. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, and two members, one on each side of the facepiece and arched outwardly from the surface thereof, each of said members comprising a shank connected to the facepiece, and an arm swingably adjustable thereon and. contacting at one end with said nose portion, and means on said members for connection of a headband thereto.

1'7. A facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, and two members, one on each side of the facepiece, each of said members comprising a shank connected to the facepiece, an arm swingably mounted thereon and contacting at one end with said nose portion, and means at the pivotal points of said arms for connection of a head-band to said members.

18. The combination, with a facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, of two members attached at one end to each side of the facepiece, arched outwardly from the surface thereof, and bearing at the other ends against the sides of said nose portion, and a head-band connected with said members intermediate their ends.

19. The combination, with a facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion, of two spring-wire members one on each side and each comprising a part connected at each end to the facepiece and arched outwardly from the surface thereof, and an arm extending from said part and bearing against said nose portion, and a head-band connected with said arched parts.

20. The combination, with a facepiece of flexible material formed with a nose portion and with an annular shell at its front, of two members, one on each side of the facepiece, connected to said shell at one end, extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom and contacting at their other ends with said nose portion, and a head-band connected with said members intermediate of their ends.

WILLIS A. WHIPPLE. 

